3rd February, Arlington, Texas: The World Tenpin Bowling Association has announced that two additional events, 2001 US Open and AMF Australian Masters 2011 have been added to the World Bowling Tour schedule for 2011.

The U.S. Open, a major on the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour, and the AMF Australian Masters bring the total of events on the World Bowling Tour to seven.

"We're very pleased to welcome these prestigious events to the World Bowling Tour schedule," WTBA President Kevin Dornberger said. "Having seven events on board for the inaugural year of the tour is very encouraging, and it is my hope that we will add more events before the year is over."

The 2001 US Open will take place February, 21-27 at Brunswick Zone Carolier in North Brunswick, New Jersey. The event will feature an estimated prize fund of US$400,000 with a first-place prize of US$80,000.

"The 2011 US Open is the most prestigious open field bowling event in the world, and we are happy to see it as part of the new World Bowling Tour," said Tom Clark, PBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer.

"We support the efforts of the WTBA in creating this new world ranking system and welcome the international bowling community to compete in New Jersey, close to New York City, to test their skill with the best players from the PBA."

The AMF Australian Masters will be contested in Sydney, Australia, from October, 10-22 at AMF Rooty Hill RSL. The event is part of the Tenpin Bowling Australia Adult National Championships.

"It has been many years since Australia hosted a significant international tournament to attract the sports finest athletes from around the world," Tenpin Bowling Australia CEO Cara Honeychurch said.

"The foundations were laid with the 2010 AMF Australian Masters, and now, with its inclusion into the 2011 World Bowling Tour, we look forward to taking the tournament to the next level."

The special, made-for-television World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the PBA will wrap up the Tour's first year. The top three men and top three women in the season-ending points list will be invited to the event to compete for a total prize fund of US$40,000.

The World Bowling Tour is made up of various events around the world throughout the course of 2011. Players earn points based on how they finish in the event and those points will be tabulated throughout the season to determine the players eligible for the World Bowling Tour Finals.

The World Tenpin Bowling Association, which is made up of more than 100 bowling federations, governs the sport throughout the world. For more information on WTBA, visit www.worldtenpinbowling.com.